While Phoenix is hoping that draft pick Goran Dragic will join the team next season, their hopes may have been dashed with Dragic telling a Spanish newspaper that he expects to remain with Tau Ceramica next season, the East Valley Tribune is reporting.

Dragic's move to Phoenix for 2008-09 has been hampered by a large buyout.

"It is certain that the Suns wanted to have me, but I believe that the best thing for me is to go to Spain and try to find a place for myself in Baskonia," Dragic, translated from Spanish, told El Correo newspaper on Thursday.

NBA sources said the Suns are still holding out hope that Dragic can make the move this year and that "there is still a chance" it could happen.

But Phoenix can only contribute $500,000 to Dragic's effort to buy out his deal this summer and would have to pay him almost $2 million to reimburse him for lost wages - a figure that would taxed at 100 percent since the team is over the NBA's luxury tax.